Your contribution has enabled our Parish to continue its service this year, unlike some schools which have closed due to financial problems. During the year we have paid $3134 per week making our Parish Loan Repayments and have given $596 per week as our Diocesan Levy to support various diocesan agencies eg. Evangelisation Office, Hospital and Prison chaplains, Catholic Social Services and Formation of priests etc.
The support of our priest is given not from Thanksgiving Offering but from the first collection and Christmas Offerings. The support includes the lease and running costs of a car, board and lodging and a living allowance. Supply priests are paid from these offerings also.
CHURCH’S SUBMISSION TO PARLIAMENTARY ENQUIRY ON CHILD ABUSE
Copies of an executive summary of our submission to be heard probably in March is available today from the Welcome Desk.
GONE MISSING?
If anyone has seen the remote controls for the laptops at St Anne’s or Our Lady of Mount Carmel Churches, would you please advise where they might be found.
Theyhas been missing for about 3 weekends.
PARISH CENTRE CHAIRS FOR SALE
Our Parish has recently ordered new chairs for the Parish Centre to replace the old, heavy chairs. If you or anyone you know are interested in purchasing any of the chairs please contact the Parish Office on 9744 1060. Make an offer!
USE OF CANDLE SNUFFER………………PLEASE!
At a Liturgy meeting, it was suggested that when the candles are extinguished after Mass, only the snuffer is used.
We ask people not to blow the candles out as wax spills and is very difficult to clean.
We ask everyone’s cooperation in this matter please.
NEWS FROM SOCIAL JUSTICE GROUP
Caritas Australia Media Release – Crisis spreads in the Congo. Church Leaders say the Democratic Republic of Congo is on the brink of war. Read the Bishops of Africa’s full statement at www.caritas.org.au/media. To support Caritas Emergency response, donations can be made to Caritas Australia Congo Appeal at www.caritas.org.au/donate.
MERCY CONNECT PROJECT
Mercy Works Ltd is currently recruiting volunteers to support refugee students in their educational transitions in Secondary and Primary schools in Melbourne’s northern and western regions.
The volunteer commitment is half a day per week for four school terms. Experience working in an educational setting is required. Retired teachers are encouraged to apply. A training program will be conducted in Feb 2013. Please contact Sr Mary Lewis for an app. form and further info.
Mercy Connect Project 9326 1895 or email somml@bigpond.com.
STEWARDSHIP……A WAY OF LIFE
CATHOLIC STEWARDSHIP FROM SUNDAYS READINGS
Today — Gaudete Sunday, the Third Sunday in Advent — is a time to rejoice! Everything, from the lighting of the rose-colored candle, to the consistent use of the words JOY and REJOICE in the readings, points to being called to joyfully proclaim the imminent coming of Jesus.
Often people who practice stewardship as a way of life are called a “joyous people.” That is a natural reflection and a natural phrase to use with people of stewardship because, based upon living their lives as grateful people, they focus on their blessings, not their Crosses and burdens. When one sees the good sides of life and living, it is difficult not to be happy.
Our task as Catholics is to focus much of the energy and excitement which seems to come with this season into what we are really celebrating — the arrival of Christ. Advent is about hope. It is not just hope that things will get better or hope that our burdens will disappear. It is hope that there is meaning to our lives. It is the hope and understanding that there is an incredible existence beyond our human state. It is the hope that our lives are not as limited as they may seem to be. We must never forget what we heard in a Gospel passage of a few weeks ago: “All things are possible with God.” After all, “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad.”
Copyright © 2012 www.TheCatholicSteward.com
TREE OF LIFE– OUR CHRISTMAS TREE
As we put up our Christmas trees, let us reflect on the symbolism: by a tree we were lost, by a tree we were saved: the Christmas tree, in a sense, prefigures the Easter cross also it is evergreen symbolising new life or eternity. A new book by Bernd Brunner places the first Christmas tree in Estonia in 1441.
…..Kevin McIntosh
THANK YOU
Thank you to the wonderful Ministers of Communion who take Communion to the house bound and the Aged Care Facilities, we thank you all and wish you a very Holy and Safe Christmas and many blessings in the New Year.
THANK YOU
THANK YOU to Jo Wiegerink and Jim Reilly for the beautiful work they have done on restoring the Christmas statues and building a new stable. The crib will be assembled next Tuesday by Eileen and Kelvin Cardillo, for all to enjoy.
ST VINCENT DE PAUL SPECIAL CHRISTMAS COLLECTION
ST VINCENT DE PAUL SPECIAL CHRISTMAS COLLECTION
COMING UP OVER 2 WEEKENDS
Our parish has always had an excellent rapport with our local Vinnies. We are looking to have a special collection over the weekends of 9 & 15 December (please note the change of date) to assist the Vinnies at this time of the year. Rather than buying presents for families, it was considered more dignified to give families cash to buy gifts for each other. Our community has always been generous, and we ask that you can help again at this special time of year.
Vinnies are distributing $8000 per month to needy families in Sunbury and Diggers Rest and our Parish would like to give these families a little extra so they can have the joy and dignity of purchasing Christmas presents for their own children.
HELP REQUIRED
On Thursday 20 December from 7pm, we will be asking for people to assist with the set up for the Christmas Eve Mass at Lakeside Stadium, Rupertswood.
Last year we set up in 20 minutes.
NEWS FROM SOCIAL JUSTICE GROUP
Caritas Australia Media Release – Crisis spreads in the Congo. Church Leaders say the Democratic Republic of Congo is on the brink of war. Read the Bishops of Africa’s full statement at http://www.caritas.org.au/media. To support Caritas Emergency response, donations can be made to Caritas Australia Congo Appeal at www.caritas.org.au/donate.
The Brigidine Asylum Seeker Project presents Julian Burnside A.O Q.C., a leading advocate for the human rights of asylum seekers, on Mon 10th Dec 2012 from 7.30 – 9.30 pm at St Joseph’s Hall, 274 Rouse Street, Port Melbourne. Melway Map 2JC6. Admission: $20 $15 Student/Senior. Includes Supper. Rsvp email gm_moore@bigpond.net.au
THANK YOU
Thank you to our generous parishioners for their support of the Melbourne Overseas Mission last weekend. Our Parish will be sending $1131.30 to support the important work of this organisation.
STEWARDSHIP……A WAY OF LIFE
CATHOLIC STEWARDSHIP FROM SUNDAYS READINGS
Today’s scripture readings remind us that as we celebrate the Advent season and await the celebration of Christmas, we are to do so actively – boldly proclaiming the Lord’s praises and giving Him glory in the way we live our lives. Advent is a season of waiting, but the wait is not a passive one. Rather, we are called to be actively preparing the meet the Savior, readying our hearts and our minds for His coming.
The gospel for today encourages us, “Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight His paths. Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill shall be made low. The winding roads shall be made straight and the rough made smooth, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.”
But how do we do so? We live our lives for the Lord. We offer Him ourselves in gratitude for the many things He has given us and the many things He has done, and, in so doing, we proclaim His greatness to the world, helping others come to recognize His wonder and His majesty.
“Bear on your head the mitre that displays the glory of the eternal name. For God will show all the earth your splendor: you will be named by God forever the peace of justice, the glory of God’s worship.”
This Advent season offers us a time to reassess how well we are living for God. Is it obvious to everyone we meet that we are stewards of God’s many gifts? Does the way we use what the Lord has given us proclaim His praises to the world? Are we ready to greet Him – both as we celebrate Christmas and when we meet Him face-to-face when He comes again? Or is there more we can do?
Copyright © 2012 www.TheCatholicSteward.com
ADVENT PENITENTIAL SERVICE
This will be held in St Anne’s Church on Wednesday 12 December 2012 at 7.30pm. Our Penitential Service will be one of reflection on the Advent readings with periods of meditation. There will not be individual Sacramental Reconciliation at this Service.
THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING CALEB FARIA
Michelle & Biju Faria would like to thank all parishioners for their generous donations and support for the Caleb Faria Trust.
They would like to wish many blessings to all.
Caleb is suffering from Hunters Syndrome and has been denied government funding of the medicine that will help his quality of life.
Caleb and his family are our parishioners.
Anybody wanting to donate funds to the Caleb Faria Trust can donate via www.calebfaria.com.
Please continue to pray that Caleb may get access to the medicine through government funding in the near future.
YOUTH GROUP NEWS
Saturday 15 December after 6pm Mass– ‘Parish Carol Night’ at St Anne’s Parish Centre. Philipino group will sing a few traditional carols, followed by our church choir groups who will lead us to sing some carols. Youth and children will sing a few carols with action. Santa will visit with lollies.
RSVP 7 Dec.
RSVP gljsjacob@gmail.com
DIARY DATES FOR 2013: SACRAMENT PROGRAM
Reconciliation:
OLMC & St Anne’s school families
Info & Rego 2pm & 7.30pm Tues 4 June Parish Centre
All other school families
Info & Rego 2pm & 7.30pm Tues 5 March Parish Centre All Families celebrating First Reconciliation on 13 or 14 August 2013, St Anne’s Church.
First Communion: All families
Info session 2pm or 7.30pm Tues 19 February Parish Centre
Celebrations: 18, 19, 25, 26 May & 1 & 2 June 2013
Confirmation: All families
Info & Rego 2pm & 7.30pm Tues 3 July Parish Centre
Celebration: 2pm & 4pm Sun 13 October St Patricks Cathedral
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish Sunbury 
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